Prostate Cancer: How To Spot The Symptoms

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in UK men, after lung cancer.

It is estimated that one in eight men will develop prostate cancer at some point in their lifetime.

So how much do men really know about it?

The prostate is a small gland in the pelvis found only in men. About the size of a walnut, it is located between the penis and the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis.

The main function of the prostate is to help in the production of semen. It produces a thick white fluid that is mixed with the sperm produced by the testicles, this is secreted at the time of ejaculation.

In the last 40 years, prostate cancer cases have tripled, but it is thought that this is due to better detection methods.

Three quarters (75%) of prostate cancer cases tend to be men over the age of 65, but – as with other cancers such as ovarian cancer – when it occurs in younger men, it is thought to be due to faulty genetics.

The good news is that survival rates are steadily improving, but in the younger bracket of men (under 50), survival is slightly lower than it is for those aged 50 and over.

The NHS website says that prostate cancer can develop slowly over the years, which is why there are often no symptoms at the beginning. However, these are the signs you need to look out for.

Make an appointment with your GP if you are concerned about any of the below: